Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Policy Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
School committee tables revisions to norms, caregiver/booster and advertising policies; seeks legal review
Summary
After lengthy debate, the Beverly School Committee voted to table proposed edits to norms & protocols (electronics/stepping-out language) and to send a draft caregiver/booster policy to legal counsel; an advertising policy was also tabled. The committee prioritized an AI/deepfake policy for student safety.
The Beverly School Committee spent significant time on May 27 discussing behavioral norms for members and proposed policy changes affecting caregiver organizations and advertising in school facilities.
Vice chair/acting chair led discussion of a proposed norms and protocols amendment that would ask members to remain present and be mindful when using electronics during meetings. Members debated whether the language should require stepping out for personal matters or allow discretion. After a motion to change the word "should" to "may" for stepping-out language and additional discussion, the committee voted to table broader decisions on norms until a retreat with the full body present.
The committee then examined policy KBE (relations with caregivers, boosters and organizations). Member John Taylor moved to remove a paragraph that would require caregiver organizations to obtain 501(c)(3) status and file proof with the district; he said that requirement could create liability for the district if paperwork lapsed. Other members noted the practice of requiring nonprofit status for recognized boosters but agreed the language warranted legal review. The committee asked the superintendent to forward the policy to district counsel and tabled the policy for further consideration.
A separate advertising-in-schools policy (KHB) prompted discussion about the proper governance role: members and the superintendent agreed that the committee should set high-level policy while day-to-day procedures and approvals would be handled by the superintendent’s office. After conversation and a suggested amendment, the committee opted to table KHB as well to allow more review and input.
Members also heard from Superintendent Dr. Cushing that the policy subcommittee should prioritize a policy addressing AI and deepfakes because of student-safety risks and the rapid pace of relevant technology. Dr. Cushing asked that the policy subcommittee consult legal counsel as it drafts recommendations.
All three items—norms & protocols, KBE and KHB—were tabled or sent to counsel for follow-up; committee leaders said they will bring recommended language back after legal review and full-body discussion.
